NYTIMES (Rajan Menon) - Ukraine’s Defenses Are Dwindling. Putin Will Make the Most of It.
After more than 50 months of this war, the next few could be decisive.
NPR (Manuel Rueda) - Colombia's new president vows to remake the country — and challenge its fragile peace
A new political era for Colombia: a hard-right president promises order, growth and confrontation.
NYTIMES (Anton Troianovski and Paul Sonne) - Trump Sought an Iran War Exit. Putin Pushed On in Ukraine. Now Both Are Stuck.
The Iran and Ukraine wars underline the common limits of military force in achieving political ends, but also the differences between a dug-in Russian president and a vacillating American one.
NPR (John Otis) - Colombia Election: Right-wing Abelardo de la Espriella wins, initial count shows
Colombia wakes up to a sharp political turn to right as Abelardo de la Espriella's preliminary victory redraws the country's path on security, economy, and peace.
| Keywords | colombiaabelardo-de-la-espriellapoliticselectionright-winglatin-americasecurityeconomynprnational-securitypopulismgovernmentvictoryregional-politicspeace-process |
NYTIMES (Paul Sonne) - Putin Said the War ‘Is Coming to a Close.’ But That’s Not All He Said.
The Russian leader is walking a tightrope: acknowledging public discontent while offering no indication that he might give up on his demands.
| Keywords | putinrussiaukraine-wargeopoliticsforeign-policywarpeace-processnational-securityglobal-conflictpoliticsdiplomacyred-green-axis |
AXIOS (Barak Ravid) - Scoop: Rubio and EU official had heated exchange on Russia at G7 meeting
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio when the U.S. would get tough on Russia during a G7 ministers meeting on Friday, sparking a sharp retort, according to three sources who attended the meeting. Why it matters: The tense exchange, which took place in front of allied foreign ministers, was symptomatic of the mutual distrust between the U.S. and many of its European allies over the war in Ukraine . Behind the scenes: During a discussion of Ukraine, Kallas — a Russia hawk and former prime minister of Estonia — criticized the U.S. for not increasing pressure on Moscow, according to the sources. - She noted that Rubio had said at the same forum a year earlier that if Russia hampered U.S. efforts to…
AXIOS (Avery Lotz) - America's slipping sympathy for Israel
Data: Gallup World Affairs surveys; Chart: Axios Visuals For the first time in 25 years of Gallup polling, more Americans say they sympathize with Palestinians than with Israelis — a striking shift in U.S. public opinion. Why it matters: The reversal reflects a dramatic shift in attitudes toward Israel — a key U.S. ally — after its war with Hamas triggered a humanitarian crisis and reshaped the Middle East . Context: The difference — 41% who sympathize more with the Palestinians versus 36% for the Israelis — is not statistically significant, Gallup notes. - But the trend over the last year shows how suddenly U.S. public opinion has soured on Israel — slipping 10 percentage points in 12 months. - At the same time,…
NYTIMES (Reid J. Epstein and Megan Specia) - A Once Prominent American Statesman Faces Fallout From the Epstein Files
George Mitchell, a former Senate majority leader credited with bringing peace to Northern Ireland, is under renewed scrutiny over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
NYTIMES (Isabel Kershner) - Rafah Crossing in Gaza Reopens, Another Step for Fragile Cease-Fire
Israel and Egypt had disagreed for months about how to resume operations at the Rafah border crossing, which has been closed for nearly a year.
| Keywords | gazarafahisraelegyptborder-crossingceasefiremiddle-eastdiplomacygeopoliticsregional-tensionswarfaremilitary-strikespeace-processhumanitarian-aidsecurityinternational-relations |
AXIOS (Barak Ravid) - Trump claims Putin promised to stop bombing Ukraine's cities due to extreme cold
President Trump said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to his request to halt missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine because of the extreme cold in the country. Why it matters: Russian strikes have left many Ukrainians without power or heat at a time when temperatures are well below freezing. Pausing the strikes would be a significant step, as attempts to freeze the population into submission are a clear element of Russia's strategy. - U.S. officials hope to leverage such confidence-building measures in peace negotiations. - But a Ukrainian official was initially skeptical, telling Axios: "Only the reality itself can prove it. We will see how tonight goes." - Earlier on Thursday, the…